OCZ Enhanced VGA & HDD Power Lead

Entering the memory market in August 2000, OCZ Technology was built around the determination to manufacture the best high speed DDR and RDRAM.

OCZ Technology has been an innovator in many areas. It was the first manufacturer to make Dual Channel optimized memory available to the public, which originally took advantage of nVidia's Twinbank or Dual DDR architecture, found in their nForce chipset. That technology has been currently tailored for the Canterwood and Granite Bay chipsets. OCZ has also developed and implemented the ULN technology, which has been a critical element in its manufacturing process for some time.

OCZ broke into the PC power market some time ago with their “Powerstream” power supplies. Apart from the success in delivering clean and stable voltage output, even at demanding levels (3.3v), this power supply featured the "PowerShield" EMI control technology. Using copper shielded power leads, both current stabilization and the cleanest possible output to system components were achieved.

The product we have in our hands is a power cables set, radio frequency and electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shielding for critical components. But what is EMI?

Electromagnetic Interference, otherwise known as "EMI", is a naturally occurring phenomenon when the electromagnetic field of one electronic device disrupts, impedes or degrades the electromagnetic field of another device. In computer technology, computer devices are susceptible to EMI because electromagnetic fields are a byproduct of passing electricity through a wire. Data lines that have not been properly shielded are susceptible to data corruption by EMI. Simply stated, EMI causes a piece of electrical equipment to malfunction due to unwanted electrical energy being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

PCs can be affected by electromagnetic interference from other devices, in two ways. One is direct effects through proximity with other devices; another is electrical interference over the power lines. The EMI effect from other devices could be a serious problem, but it should be solved with proper PC metal cases, physical isolation of the PC e.t.c. But what happens when the interference is caused inside the box?

Here comes the OCZ Enhanced VGA and HDD Power Lead set. These high-end cables allow users to eliminate "Snowing" and "Water Wave" effects when plugging into high-end VGA cards and Hard Disk Drives. The OCZ PowerShield™ EMI Control technology with Copper-shielded power leads provides extreme current stabilization and is an ideal solution for high-resolution applications such as PC games, video editing, and 3-D graphic design. In addition, OCZ's PowerShield EMI Control technology substantially reduces inbound and feedback RF interference.

Technical Specifications:

• Powershield™ EMI Control technology improves Current Ripple and reduces RF interference
• Easy to install and implementToll-free, direct technical support
• +5v improved from 40.8mV to 21.6mV
• +12V improved from 40.8mV to 21.6mV

The following diagram illustrates the improvement in Current Ripple and RF interference:  

Although most PCs generally do not have many problems with EMI, those that do can cause frustration to their owners. And when it comes to PC enthusiasts who need the absolute best performance from their PC, any way to eliminate annoyances is welcome. LAN game players for example would certainly appreciate even the smallest benefit offered by such an accessory. In addition, these cables can do much to increase overclocking stability or even prolong the lifetime of your video card and hard disks.

For stable performance from your expensive VGA card, such as NVidia's 6800 series or ATI's X800, this cable will definitely help. Considering the low cost ($10 online) of the cable set, there is no reason not to keep you from acquiring it if you feel you are having problems with EMI. Available online from distributors and resellers, as well as from shops listed at http://www.ocztechnology.com/wheretobuy/.